Two injured, several women rescued from windows after fire breaks out in east side apartment

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- More than a hundred women were forced out of their apartments on Friday evening after their building caught fire.

Crews arrived on scene shortly after 6 p.m. near Knapp and Astor. 

One woman escaped with her baby in her arms. She saw the flames coming from the room next door.

"You don't think about grabbing diapers or anything, it's save your kid and get out," the resident said.

As smoke filled the apartment building, women rushed to get out.

There are 164 women and children live inside the building. With so much smoke in the hallways, some women didn't know how to get out. Crews rescued 10 women through the windows.

"The windows were open so once our crews arrived on scene they were physically able to see them looking for assistance," said Brian Smith, Assistant Fire Chief of the Milwaukee Fire Department.

The residence is a low-income home for women and now many of them are hoping for the best.

Two people were taken to a local hospital for treatment of what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but some residents believe it was a smoking device.

As of 9 p.m., women were being allowed to go back into their apartments except for those who live on the third floor.

Residents from the third floor are being given the option to stay in the lobby or in a shelter that the Red Cross will transport them to. 

Stay with CBS 58 News for more information on this developing story.